Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Are you a pantser or an outliner?

As I'm writing my current WiP, I was motoring along with full steam until I ran into a block. This is usually what happens when I try to write on the fly. So, this question is interesting. Can you write better with or without an outline?

I do try to write without an outline. I like to see where my character takes me, an I often know what the ending is going to be. It's the damn middle that really gets me blocked. Then I find for the middle that I do require some basic outline (which I don't force myself to stick to). I guess this is just to help me have plot points that will help me find that path to the ending.

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comments:

I couldn't write without an outline - I wouldn't know where I was going! I usually see the ending first and plan my way to get there. I probably craft twenty or more versions of the outline, changing things to make it flow better, before I begin writing. So far it's worked - I've never gotten stuck!

I've half written an outline, but not finished it and sometimes I will write an outline for a chapter or two, but not the whole story. I'm a pantser. :) In some ways, an outline would really be helpful. But sometimes I just really like seeing where the characters will drive the story. :)

I'm typically a pantser, but I did an outline with my current WIP and it's saved me. I wrote it chapter by chapter, and even included bits of dialogue that popped into my mind. I allow myself to be flexible with it. It's just a guide of how I originally saw the story going, not the rule book.

i'm an outliner. If i tried to do without, i'd get 40K in, then stop. I need to have a general idea of where i'm going, so i can steer the boat that way, so to speak.But, my outline is literally just a loose list of scenes. Like "MC kisses girl". How they arrive at the kiss grows organically as i write

I could never write without an outline...I'd get stuck and get all freaked out about where to go next... I love doing a lot of brainstorming before I start writing - doing a detailed outline of the general plot. I won't go into too much details as these things come alive as I write...

I'm a pantser through and through :) I wrote my whole Truth Teller series like this. I did do some outlining on the last half of Unknown Reality, but only to help keep the pace of the story going. The story was already in my head. Pantser is more exciting in my humble opinion.

I'm a total panster -i write every scene (out of order) - then i do my best to quilt them all together - not the best method - but i have a hard time writing in order. BUT...my writing partner constantly does her best to try to change that. So, lately i've been trying out the outlining thing...it's worth a try -right? it must be popular for some reason!!